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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Waukesha County Health and Human Services Award

is received by Karen Cimbalnik

Karen Cimbalnik, Financial and Residential Specialist, has been a HIL employee since 10-1-1997.  She works with the SAIL program (Supervised Apartments for Independent Living) that operates out of Waukesha County Mental Health Center.  Karen works side by side with Waukesha County staff social workers and case managers. 

In May of 2007 Karen received the Waukesha County Health and Human Services Award.  Fellow workers nominated her for her professionalism and quality of service. 

The following areas were identified as areas warranting recognition:

  • Karen takes an active role in encouraging consumers to take steps toward greater independence.  She is an integral part in helping consumer’s transition from group homes to their own apartments or to Patricia Place or Madison House.  If individuals have the skills but lack the confidence to become their own payee, she finds ways to slowly help them feel successful. 
  • Karen is especially skilled at looking for ways we can do things more efficiently.  She works individually with consumers to review budgets and provide tips for saving money.  Karen also monitors consumer’s work earnings and adjusts monthly monies so they can pay towards their bills.  She passes her insights on to staff and consumers alike. 
  • Karen serves the consumers of Waukesha County with respect and professionalism.  She also treats the staff with kindness and great patience.  She will answer the same questions, again and again, with a smile. (From both staff and consumers!) She works hard to streamline the procedures we must follow to process check requests, benefit reviews etc. 
  • Karen assists many case managers with the coordination of benefits and finances for hundreds of Waukesha consumers!

Congratulations Karen!  We are proud to have you on our team.

 

WFBSA “Crucible Award” is presented to HIL’s Sarah Ingle

Sarah Ingle has been honored as the recipient of The Crucible Award for 2007, sponsored by the Wisconsin Family Based Services Association.  

Sarah worked for Homes for Independent Living in the SAIL program from 1994-1996 as an Outreach Counselor.  She returned to HIL in 2000.  She continues in the SAIL program as a Community Care Manager.  Sarah’s current job duties include working with clients who have a Mental Illness and are living in the community or in out of county residential programs.  She provides support, assists clients with daily living needs, housing, court, obtaining funding sources, and deals with crisis situations as they arise.  She is a valuable team member and coordinates services with co-workers, family members, vendors and medical personnel. 

WFBSA published a press release related to and describing this honor…..

 

 

 

Sarah Ingle has been honored as the recipient of The Crucible Award for 2007, sponsored by the Wisconsin Family Based Services Association.  The award was presented on April 26th in Madison at the WFBSA 20th anniversary conference.

As part of the Association’s mission to recognize and support individuals and systems that work to strengthen families in Wisconsin, The Crucible Award was developed to celebrate the skills and gifts of a member of the WFBSA professional family.  The award has a rich history within the traditions of WFBSA.  The first Crucible was awarded to Carl Whitaker in 1989 at the 2nd annual conference.  The award was specifically designed to recognize outstanding leadership and dedication to the family based services movement.  The title “Crucible” is from the book, The Family Crucible, by August Napier and Carl Whitaker. 

Ms. Ingle’s long-standing support of and service to WFBSA, and her personal dedication to recovery-based work, serve as excellent examples of family based philosophy in action.  Additionally her energy and forward-thinking style exemplify the conference theme of Honoring our Roots-Branching out Toward Tomorrow.   The award placard reads, “Presented to Sarah Ingle in recognition of your outstanding service to the association and your dedicated promotion of the values and tenets of family based services.”  Ms. Ingle serves on the Board of Directors for WFBSA as a State-at-Large representative.  She has held a number of positions including Secretary and Membership Committee Chair.  Her work as conference co-chair and event coordinator has been pivotal to the success of the annual conference.